Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-31
BIG GUNS.
TIE WORLDS WONDERS INTHE SHAPE
OF CANNON.
Some of the Monsters Built FOR the ships
and Forts Of Foreign
Powers.

and Forts OF Foreign
Powers.
A Washington telegram says: The
havoc made in the A,,anta's fixtures by
the inadequacy OF her gun-carriages to
hold and control her pivot-guns calls
attention to the fact that, while the lat
ter are very powerful Tor an unarmored
cruiser of her size, they would make a
small show compared with the heaviest
ordnance now carried in war-ships.
The progress of thirty years in con-
structing heavy guns has been extra
ordinary. The largest pieces found on
var-vessels in 1860 threw ball weigh
ing sixty-eight pounds, with an initial
velocity of l $40 feet per second, and
an energy of LOO foot tons. Now
initial velocities in high-power guns
have been increased to 2,l00 feet; pro-
iectiles at the maximum weighas much
as 800 pounds, and in some cases are
propelled by charges of nearly half-a-
ton of powder, while the ll0-ton guns
of the Benbow reach an energy OF
about 1900 foot tons.
Passing over the triumphs obtained
by intermediate calibres, which were
remarkable in their day, we find that
the largest French steel guns, such as
are used for the armament of the Ter
rible, completed at Brest, the Requin,
built at Pordeaux, the Indomitible,
built at LOrient, and the Caiman,
finished at Toulon, weigh each about
&c tons. They deliver a proiectile
weighing 1,71G pounds, with a muzzle
velocity of 1,739 feet per second and
muzzle energy of $4,000 foot tons.
The guns are rifed breech-loaders
Tie French have other powerful guns,
those constructed on the Bange system
being well known.
The Armstrong guns now mounted
for service in the Italian armOr-clads
Duilio, Dandolo, Italia, and Lepanto
weigh 100 tons each, and throw pro-
iectile Of 1900 pounds. These have
long been familiar, but the latter
LreecL- loading guns are improvements
over the early muzzle- leaders. The
most powerful Of them take powder
charge Of shout ~ pounds. and have
an initial velocity OF 1885 feet per
second, and muzzle energy of BLOOD
foot tons. Guns OF 10j IONS have also
been made at Elswick for the Fran
cosco LAURA, The Andrea Dona, and
the Morosini. In these the weight OF
tie charge is geo pounds, the weight
of tie projectile 1000 pounds, tho
muzzle velocity 2,0l9 feet per second,
the muzzle energy 56,j47 foot tons.
These will undoubtedly prove most
formidable weapons.
7 he largest krupp gun weighs nearly
10 tons. 1t is over 10 feet long, has Il
caIihre Of II, inches, and fl IS shot
weighing 2,3l4 pounds, with muzzle
velocity Of l,SC0 feet. The maximum
elevation gives it a range Of nearly y
niles. It's power Of penetration into
wrought iron is estimated at about Il
inches ct the muZzle, 81 inches at the
distance Ct 1850 yards, and 30 inches
at 9.Cc1 yGids. st the distance Of
three niles It's striking average IS still
ahout - eco foot tons. The Italians
have two Of these guns mounted IN a
shore battery, for which purpose they
arc intended.
Tie English 1lo-ton gun, manufac-
turcd at Elsvick, is about ! . feet long,
ana It's actual weight 2i7, 79j pounds.
Tie sclow-block, removed i'll loading,
weighs p tons. The proiectile Is IL
loit weighing l,SG0 pounds and l6i
inches in diameter. With $50 pounds OF
rovGor Tie actual muzzle velocity at
taired was 2.O1S feet and the nuzzle
cr,rQv 34.cGO foot tons 50 that with
$50 rounds, which the gun is construct
cd 10 Use, an energy onthe projccllIe OF
Gl. eco foot tons Is expected. The re-
coil Of the gun is very small. The bri-
tsh, also, have powerful new gun IN
dor C3-tcn steo! breech-loadcr, which
will lie carried on the Rodney. 1t IS
expected to throw l3,-inch shot OF
1850 pounds, with powder charge OF
80 pounds, and to attain 2,l0J-lect
muzzlo velocity. Should these expecta-
tons he realized this gun, though
much lighter, will be more DESTRUCTIVE
than tie seton gun OF the lnnexlble,
which takes a proiectile OF Lea
pounds, with 4 cartridge Of $50 pounds,
reaching Il muzzle velocity OF 1909
feet.
1t is said that the next step attempted
il heavy gun construction Will be tLat
of l5t.ton monster, this project being
attributed to the Essen works. 1t
would throw shell six feet long,
weighing ton and a half. There are
also some guns under construction
which are expected to accomplish great
results on somewhat new theories. as in
tie case of the one manufactured for
Colonel Hope. This is to take an
onormons powder charge, and to have
conespondipgly great penetratlve et-
feet. But without going into the pos
sible successes of the future, those
which have already been achieved are
e,-tf' cieutlV astonishing